Aranda knocks in 51 as Sonics keep perfect streak alive

Scoring leader Rowell Aranda had an explosive performance Thursday and led his Southern Sonics to their ninth win in as many starts to remain unbeaten in the ongoing 2005 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League.

Aranda went berserk for 51 points, almost duplicating the effort of the entire Bwibwiis squad as the Sonics trounced their younger opponents, 106-52.

It was the Aranda show in the early goings as the forward worked his way for 10 of his team’s first 16 points. Unfortunately for the Bwibwiis, Aranda was just getting started and his opening push was just a taste of things to come.

Aranda went on to score another 13 points in the first half, and at one point, scored 11 straight points for his team.

Aranda was not the only one with the hot hand as the Bwibwiis were able to stay within striking distance courtesy of Fred Litulimar, who took credit for the team’s first eight points and scored 12 in the half, while Ben Lisua pumped in seven points. At the break, the Sonics led by eight points, 41-33.

Southern wasn’t sticking close any longer and padded their lead in the second half, turning the close match into a rout. Aranda went crazy for another 18 points, including 12 straight, Jack Lizama poured in 11 points, and Leo Apelo drilled in eight points to spearhead a 65-point scoring spree that finally ended with the team ahead by miles.

Mike Eclevia and Lizama also had 15 and 14 points while Apelo finished with 10 points for the Sonics.

Litulimar and Lisua paced the Bwibwiis with 14 and 13 points.

Later in the evening, the San Antonio Sixers I and Garapan Rollers II resumed their game that started last Sept. 15, with San Antonio strolling to a 101-66 win.

Only 5:25 remained to be played when the two teams took the court, but the big lead already held by the Sixers I was just too much to overcome.

San Antonio led 42-27 after the first half as the trio of Kevin Cequena, Manuel Ajoste, and Christian Dela Cruz took care of business.

The success continued in the second half as the Sixers kicked into turbo mode and sped away for the easy win.

Cequena and Ajoste led the Sixers I with 25 and 16 points while Jon Lim, the Bahillo brothers, and Omar Ajoste also finished in double figures.

Nate Mateo led G-II with 15 points, while Steve Tellei and Don Teregeyo supported with 11 and 10 points.

First Game

Sonics 106—Aranda 51, Eclevia 15, Lizama 14, Apelo 10, Flores 6, Ferrer 4, F. Palacios 2, E. Palacios 2, Kaipat 2.

Bwibwiis 82—Litulimar 14, B. Lisua 13, M. Lisua 9, Saures 6, Moteisou 4, Somol 4, Peter 2.

Scoring by halves: 41-33, 106-52.

Referees: Gilbert Espinosa and Abong Camacho.

Second Game

Sixers I 101—K. Cequena 25, M. Ajoste 16, Lim 14, J. Bahillo 11, J. Bahillo 10, O. Ajoste 10, Dela Cruz 9, Magcalas 2, P. Cequena 2, Manansala 2.

G-Rollers II 66—N. Mateo 15, Tellei 11, Teregeyo 10, D. Mateo 9, Moses 9, Avila 4, Basilla 4, Camacho 3, Iguel 1.

Scoring by halves: 42-27, 101-66.

Referees: Jess Pacheco and Jonathan Tenorio/Gilbert Espinosa and Abong Camacho.